JP2002011896A - Print head support structure for thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print head support structure for a thermal head capable of achieving a good operability for attaching and detaching by attaining a simple structure. SOLUTION: A step section 10 having a parallel face 10a with respect to a support wall is formed in the vicinity of a support wall 9 of a base body 2 and an attachment hole 11 penetrating the base body 2 is formed on the parallel face 10a. A guide rod 12 o be fitted to the support wall is provided to a bracket 8 and an engagement piece 13 to be inserted to the attachment hole 11 is integrally formed with the bracket 8. An engagement pawl 14 to be engaged with an inner edge of the attachment hole 11 is formed on the end section of the engagement piece 13 at the side to be inserted to the attachment hole 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print head support structure for a thermal printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a thermal printer, a print head is screwed to a bracket, and this print head is screwed to a base of the thermal printer so that the print head is supported by the base. ing.

[0003]

However, such a conventional technique has the following problems to be improved.

That is, when replacing the print head,
Since the attachment and detachment operation of the screw fixing the bracket to the base of the thermal printer or the attachment and detachment operation of the screw fixing the print head to the bracket is required,
The problem is that the work is complicated. In addition, there is a problem that a space for inserting a driver for attaching and detaching such screws must be provided, which complicates the manufacturing process.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and provides a print head support structure of a thermal head which can realize a simple mounting / removal operation while ensuring a simple structure. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print head supporting structure for a thermal printer, wherein a print head of the thermal printer is attached to a support wall provided on a base of the thermal printer via a bracket. A print head support structure of a thermal printer adapted to be mounted, wherein a step having a plane parallel to the support wall is formed near the support wall of the base, and the step penetrates the base through the parallel plane. A mounting hole is formed, and the bracket is provided with a guide rod fitted to the support wall, and an engaging piece inserted into the mounting hole is integrally provided.
At the end on the side to be inserted into the mounting hole, an engaging claw to be engaged with the inner edge of the mounting hole is formed, and with the guide rod fitted to a support wall, the engagement is performed. The bracket is fixed to the support leg by inserting a piece into the mounting hole and engaging the engaging claw with an inner edge of the mounting hole. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print head support structure for a thermal printer, wherein a biasing member is provided between the support leg and the bracket according to the first aspect, for biasing the support legs and the bracket in a direction to separate them. It is characterized by having been done. The print head support structure of the thermal printer according to claim 3 of the present invention comprises:
3. A positioning recess formed in the parallel surface of the step portion according to claim 1 or 2 to be engaged with a positioning protrusion provided on the bracket when the bracket is mounted. It is characterized by being.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes
1 shows a thermal printer to which the present embodiment is applied. This thermal printer 1 is provided on a base 2 on which a roll-shaped recording paper R is stored and which is rotatably mounted on the base 2. And a cover 3 for opening and closing the insertion portion 2a of the recording paper R.

A print head 4 for printing on the recording paper R and a control unit (not shown) for controlling the drive of the print head 4 are provided in the insertion portion 2a of the base 2.

The cover 3 sandwiches the recording paper R between the printing head 4 and a platen roller 5 for moving the recording paper R, and a motor for driving the platen roller 5 to rotate. And a gear group 7 interposed between the motor 6 and the platen roller 5 for transmitting the rotation of the motor 6 to the platen roller 5.

On the other hand, the print head 4 is supported by the base 2 via a bracket 8 mounted on the base 2. More specifically, a support wall 9 on which the bracket 8 is mounted is integrally protruded from a portion of the base 2 where the insertion portion 2a is formed, as shown in FIGS.

A step 10 having a parallel surface 10a with the support wall 9 is formed in the vicinity of the support wall 9, and a mounting hole 1 penetrating the base 2 is formed in the parallel surface 10a of the step 10.
1 is formed, and on the side of the bracket 8 opposite to the part where the print head 4 is mounted, a through hole 9 a formed in the support wall 9 is formed from a direction orthogonal to the support wall 9. A pair of guide rods 12 to be fitted are integrally protruded, and are inserted into the mounting holes 11 below the guide rods 12, that is, below the guide rods 12, as shown in FIG. Engaging pieces 13 are integrally provided. The lower surface of the end of the engagement piece 13 on the side inserted into the mounting hole 11 is provided with the mounting hole 11.
Is formed with an engagement claw 14 to be engaged with the lower inner edge portion 11a. The tip surface of the engaging claw 14 is formed as an inclined surface 14 a so as to approach the guide rod 12 as it goes forward in the insertion direction of the engaging piece 13.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the urging member 15 such as a compression spring is mounted on each of the guide rods 12 and the bracket 8 is mounted on the support wall 9, the bracket 8 is supported by the support rod 9. It is urged in a direction away from the wall 9.

Further, as described in detail in FIG. 2, the base 2 has a parallel surface 10a from both sides of the step 10.
A pair of ribs 16 are formed in a direction protruding from the bracket 8.
A plate 17 having the same width as the engaging piece 13 and extending in a direction opposite to the engaging piece 13 is provided, and in a state where the engaging piece 13 is inserted into the mounting hole 11. The plate 17 is brought into surface contact with the base 2, and both sides thereof are supported by the ribs 16. Further, when the bracket 8 is mounted, the plate 17 is guided by the ribs 16 so that the engagement pieces 13 are attached to the mounting holes 11.
And is guided to the mounting hole 11.

In order to mount the print head 4 on the base 2 in the print head support structure of the thermal printer according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the following procedure is adopted.

First, the print head 4 is attached to the bracket 8 and the urging member 15 is attached to each guide rod 12. Then, the tip end of each guide rod 12 is inserted into the through hole of the support wall 9. 9a, and
The engaging piece 13 and the plate 17 are located between the ribs 16. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bracket 8 is moved so as to approach the support wall 9 while compressing the urging members 15 so that the engagement pieces 13 are moved.
Is inserted into the mounting hole 11 formed in the step portion 10, and the engaging claw 14 provided on the engaging piece 13 is inserted into the lower inner edge of the mounting hole 11 as shown in FIG. 5. 11a.

By such an operation, the bracket 8
Is securely mounted on the base 2 by fitting the support wall 9 and the guide rod 12 and engaging the engagement piece 13 with the base 2.

In such a mounting operation, the bracket 8 can be mounted by a simple operation such as simply moving the bracket 8 along the surface direction of the base 2. Since this mounting does not require a fixing component such as a screw, there is no need to consider interference with a jig or the like that handles the fixing component, and therefore, the degree of freedom in shape setting is high.

On the other hand, when the print head 4 is to be replaced, the engagement claw 14 is pressed from the inside of the base 2 to release the engagement with the lower inner edge 11a. The bracket 8 can be easily removed.
When the engagement state by the engagement claws 14 is released in this manner, the restraining force on the urging member 15 is released, and the urging force of the urging member 15 causes the bracket 8 to move in the detaching direction. From this point,
The above-described removal operation is simplified.

The various shapes, dimensions, and the like of the components shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and can be variously changed based on design requirements and the like. For example, FIG. 2 or FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a positioning concave portion 19 with which a positioning projection 18 provided on the bracket 8 is engaged when the bracket 8 is mounted is formed on the parallel surface 10a of the step portion 10. Thus, by the engagement of these, the print head 4 of the bracket 8
, It is possible to regulate the positional deviation in the length direction with higher precision. .

[0020]

As described above, according to the print head support structure of the thermal head according to the present invention, the bracket on which the print head is mounted is connected to the guide rods and the engaging claws provided on the base. By engaging,
The bracket is attached to the base and disengaged by disengaging them. Therefore, the print head can be attached and detached by a simple operation such as moving the bracket. In addition, fixing parts such as screws are not required, which makes it easy to attach and detach, and also eliminates the need for shape setting to avoid interference with handling jigs for fixing parts. Configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a thermal printer to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an exploded state of a main part of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a main part of one embodiment of the present invention is disassembled.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal printer 2 Base 2a Insertion part 3 Lid 4 Print head 5 Platen roller 6 Motor 7 Gear group 8 Bracket 9 Support wall 9a Through hole 10 Step 10a Parallel plane 11 Mounting hole 11a Lower inner edge 12 Guide rod 13 Piece 14 Engagement claw 14a Inclined surface 15 Biasing member 16 Rib 17 Plate 18 Positioning protrusion 19 Depression (for positioning) R Recording paper

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A print head support structure for a thermal printer, wherein a print head of the thermal printer is mounted via a bracket to a support wall erected on a base of the thermal printer, wherein the support wall of the base is provided. Near
Forming a step having a parallel surface with the support wall, forming a mounting hole through the base in the parallel surface, and providing the bracket with a guide rod fitted to the support wall; An engaging piece inserted into the mounting hole is integrally provided, and an engaging claw engaged with an inner edge of the mounting hole is provided at an end of the engaging piece on a side inserted into the mounting hole. Forming the engaging rod into the mounting hole while the guide rod is fitted to the support wall, and engaging the engaging claw with an inner edge of the mounting hole. Wherein the bracket is fixed to the support leg. 2. The print head according to claim 1, wherein an urging member is provided between the support leg and the bracket so as to urge the bracket and the bracket away from each other. Support structure. 3. A positioning recess formed on the parallel surface of the step portion, with which a positioning projection provided on the bracket is engaged when the bracket is mounted. 3. A print head support structure for a thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein